Rateh

I've been to 7 schools, either from moving, trying out different styles to broaden my experiences, etc. I've had at least 20 instructors in my 10 years. I think that this has only helped me as I have so many more experiences then any 1st degree I've met.

I learned it as an over the shoulder punch, in both styles that I did it. As a result we also look over the punching shoulder. I've never heard of it as elbow strikes but I guess they could be that as well.

Lets not forget that unless there are minimum time requirements, natural ability does play into it.

Recently in class we did a fun drill as a warm-up. We did forms in a straight line. It really makes you think. Everyone was getting a suggestion of what to do as part of our warm-up that night. So after we did the straight line form down the mat, I suggested we do the basic form (the I pattern with low blocks and punches) in a straight line backwards. Now that was fun. Has anyone else ever done this type of drill? It might be a fun thing to throw out at class one day.

Thanks bushido_man96 I knew the drill but I didn't know that was the name. The prison challange seems imposible, but obviously there are at least a few people that can do that (I am certainly not one of them )

Yes, it was on the floor of the dojo, I guess they figured if your a black belt you wont be spilling food? I invited my 12 year old sister as my guest, she started martial arts this summer and is a yellow belt. (she did it when she was 5 but she had to quit one of her outside activities when she entered 1st grade and she chose karate cuz her teacher was mean and her dance teacher was nice)

This might be a dumb question, but whats a burpee?

Sounds like fun. We had a black belt dinner this past saturday. All black belts were invited and could bring one guest. We ate on the floor japanese style for fun, then played some party games, watched a slide show of pictures from the year, and gave out two awards. One was most improved black belt of the year, and the other was the most dedicated of the year.

I usually practice whatever we have been working on in class. I also reveiw things we haven't gone over in a while, to make sure (or at least try to make sure) I am still sharp and don't have to relearn or redevelop what I already know.

There is the possibility that if he is a newer instructor he hasn't developed the eye to see all the details of a technique yet. I know after 6 years of teaching I notice 10 times as much as I did when I started. It wasn't because I wasn't observant. It's just that every person you teach is different, so you learn from them what to look for and how to correct it if its wrong. When I first started I focused mainly on chamber and rechamber of kicks, then I added landing with balance, then I started to pay attention more to foot position, after that was power, then I started trying to get the hips into it... It's a learning process to watch and correct techniques.

I bring my sparring gear to every class, the weird thing about it is I bring my chest protector (its thin and light weight so it fits in my bag) even though we don't spar with chest protectors.

Perhaps your right. I was feeling generally down on wednesday, but I made myself go anyways. I'm a habitual person, so I know that as long as I keep the habit of going, then theres no risk of me ever falling out with MA. (Though tbh I've had months at a time where I didn't attend due to a school closing or moving to a new state, and I always jumped back in as soon as I had the chance)

Thanks for the kind words and advice. It's nice to hear from others who have gone through the same type of thing. It was actually kinda funny at one point. I was doing a kicking combination and as I finished I said to my instructor "I jackknifed my roundhouse kick". She laughed and said "well that makes my job easier if you just blurt out your mistakes".

The other day I was at the dojang, near the end of class we were going over two beginner level forms (I joined the style this summer, and learned them then, but they are extremely basic) So I was doing the forms....and I looked like crap. No power, no finess, hesitation, even did the wrong move at one point. It was like I was watching myself and I couldn't fix it. It just wouldn't happen. Now I've been doing martial arts for 10 years, and I have never had such an off day. I felt like beginner. Just wanted to get that off my chest...non martial artists in my life don't understand that delema The day before I was having some trouble as well, was lacking balance in my spinning kicks...I hope I'm back to myself by this next week I feel like an idiot because I know I can do much better, I take pride in my training and work to be the best I can be, and it just looks like slop right now.

It also takes more rythme and grace than I've got. Overall it is a very interesting and unique style imho.

Lol, my mom says she's too old and she's 45. Really I think MA just isn't her style and so she states her age as a reason.

A stone is 14lbs, so you would weigh around 17 stones Montana.

I took it to be slightly different. As I have seen and experienced one person attacks at a time (often they are numbered, known or unknown to the center person, and the instructor calls out a number). Again in my experience the only time that more than one attack comes at a time is for more advanced students.

That is a fairly common drills, I've encountered it many times. I do think it's a good one though. One way to do it with advanced students is to have a time limit. We used 3 seconds. You had to have the person down on the ground in 3 seconds.

erm, does yes mean decendant and no mean parent? or the other way around?

I'm glad I never attended a school that held them on sundays, as I wouldn't be able to attend for religious reasons. Schools I have attended held them on saturdays or friday nights.

This is how I read it, don't take it for gosple. 1st move...Double Knifehand Block The way I learned it, you start with both of your hands open at the side of your head, palms facing. Block with the hand that was on the outside going to the abdomen, open and palm up. Other hand is at an angle, hand open. (If you have done the kata before then even if you don't perform it this way it should be at least similar) 2nd move...step your right foot forward, elbow smash, back fist, low block, reverse punch Probably the elbow smash is performed with the right hand, otherwise it doesn't make sence to step. The elbow smash is probably a cross elbow strike. Right forearm (near the elbow) strikes left open hand, right arm is horizontal to the floor. Back fist is a strike with the back of your fist, generally head hight, fist in a vertical position Low block, the starting position is different for different arts, but its the block that ends with your fist somewhere around your knee and your arm straight. (also called a down/downward block) Reverse punch just means punch with the hand thats not in front (this would be the left) It appears like the form is done in an I pattern, this is a normal pattern for basic forms. Basically, if you start facing north, you will draw an I. You first draw the bottom part by going west then east (2 steps each direction, ie the turn into a stance, then the step into a stance). Then you draw the vertical line by going North 4 steps (1 turn and 3 step). Then the top line by going east then west (again 2 steps each). Go back down the vertical with 4 steps. Then redraw the bottom line with west then east moves. All of the turns seem to land in the double knifehand block, then the steps forward are all the elbow smash combination. If this doesn't make any sense, well I tried. Good luck.

I always thought that this was more of a chicken beak strike. Chicken beak was a downward motion with the fingers. Chicken wrist was an upward motion with the wrist.

We had a "Chicken wrist" technique. I always thought it was after the way a chickens foot looks when they lift it. I vaguely remember a chickens foot having the same sort of look as your wrist when you put your fingers together and point them downward.

It really depends on where you live Kajukenbopr. For instance in Las Vegas I know of only one school that charges less than $100/month. And that is in a really bad part of town that is way to scary to go to at night. It's not because everyone is trying to take all your money. It's just the cost of maintaining a school. Of course schools with more students make money, but at $100/month it takes 30 students to pay the bills. (on average) catalysis, it's not a common practice per say but it isn't unusual. It could be a great school that didn't make the best decision on how to make money. There is nothing wrong with people making money teaching martial arts IMNSHO. The whole starving instructor deal doesn't fly with me. IMHO the school is trying to make money and they probably pay their instructors and/or an office person. They just didn't made a good decision on how to make the money. I think so long as you ask and are told ahead what different costs will be, then just make the decision on whether or not you afford it and whether you like the instruction. I would forgive the choice to start it lower and then raise it.